Thursday, June 01, 2006
Adding Substance to My Blog
Over the past month, I've received several requests for Christian Poems. Poetry is a great way to share heart felt emotions so I've decided to ask for my blog reader's suggestions for topics. If you have a topic or even a poem you would like to share, please post it here.
Note: The material on my blog may be re-used providing I am notified.
Note: The material on my blog may be re-used providing I am notified.
How does knowing God help you in raising stepchildren?
If you know God, then you know that scripture does not define children in any capacity, whether they are your own, or the product of a second marriage. In Proverbs 22:6, it tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
The greatest struggle is between the natural mother or father. It is imperative that both parents be consistent, backing up the other. The natural mother or father needs to be the disciplinarian, but agreement from both parents. The child is in his/her own pain from the broken home, so expect rebellion. Depending upon the age of the child, you will need to have a different approach.
The promises of God are the same for all your needs. Your faith needs to be stronger because your belief system in your mate maybe challenged. A child will try to put husband and wife against each other and your mate may choose the child.
God tells us in scripture that when you marry you are to leave everything behind, cleave to your mate, and let nothing come between you. In a second marriage, there is baggage which we carry along, and the new marriage is challenged by the relationships formed in the first marriage.
If your husband/wife are believers, you can stand on the promises of God together. In Deuteronomy 31:16, God promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
In Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” You have to believe, by faith, that you will get your answer, no matter what the circumstances.
You need to look at this child as one of Gods own. You have to love them, not because of who they are, but because God wants you to. In your eyes, they may not be loveable, but God died on the cross for them also.
In Matthew 7:7-12, it tells us about asking for what we need. If you need help with this child, hold on to this scripture and believe by faith. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives’ he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will open.”
“ Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
In Matthew 19:14, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
If it were not for my relationship with God, I would have failed as a stepmother. My husband and I had a great marriage, and when I married him, I married by stepdaughter. All the vows I took in my marriage, I applied to raising my stepchild. You may need more faith than you realize but God is there for you and for the child. If you will endure, the rewards are wonderful and God will be able to bless you even more.
The greatest struggle is between the natural mother or father. It is imperative that both parents be consistent, backing up the other. The natural mother or father needs to be the disciplinarian, but agreement from both parents. The child is in his/her own pain from the broken home, so expect rebellion. Depending upon the age of the child, you will need to have a different approach.
The promises of God are the same for all your needs. Your faith needs to be stronger because your belief system in your mate maybe challenged. A child will try to put husband and wife against each other and your mate may choose the child.
God tells us in scripture that when you marry you are to leave everything behind, cleave to your mate, and let nothing come between you. In a second marriage, there is baggage which we carry along, and the new marriage is challenged by the relationships formed in the first marriage.
If your husband/wife are believers, you can stand on the promises of God together. In Deuteronomy 31:16, God promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
In Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” You have to believe, by faith, that you will get your answer, no matter what the circumstances.
You need to look at this child as one of Gods own. You have to love them, not because of who they are, but because God wants you to. In your eyes, they may not be loveable, but God died on the cross for them also.
In Matthew 7:7-12, it tells us about asking for what we need. If you need help with this child, hold on to this scripture and believe by faith. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives’ he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will open.”
“ Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
In Matthew 19:14, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
If it were not for my relationship with God, I would have failed as a stepmother. My husband and I had a great marriage, and when I married him, I married by stepdaughter. All the vows I took in my marriage, I applied to raising my stepchild. You may need more faith than you realize but God is there for you and for the child. If you will endure, the rewards are wonderful and God will be able to bless you even more.
